Asylum Seekers: Deportation

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal asylum seekers have been deported in each of the last five years.

Lord West of Spithead: Information on asylum removals and voluntary departures in the last five years is available from Table 3.1 of the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2008 bulletin (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1409.pdf ).
	The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons who were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's research, development and statistics website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration- asylum-stats.html.

Asylum Seekers: Deportation

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average cost per person of deporting an illegal asylum seeker.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average cost per person of a failed deportation of an illegal asylum seeker.

Lord West of Spithead: It is not possible to provide an average figure for the cost of removing an individual, including failed asylum seekers, for either successful or unsuccessful removals. This is because there are many different factors which may or may not be involved in the cost of a case (such as detention costs, travel costs, and the cost of escorting the individual in question). We are unable to disaggregate the specific costs and any attempt to do so would also incur disproportionate cost.

British Citizenship

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the UK Border Agency has referred concerns over the delivery of citizenship examinations to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency does not maintain statistics on the number of referrals to the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual).
	However, we take the integrity of our immigration system very seriously and have put tough measures in place to prevent fraudulent activity. If someone is found to have met the language requirements for citizenship through dubious means, then their application will be refused for failure to meet the good character requirement. In order to satisfy the good character requirement, they must show that they have been open and honest with immigration officials. If this is found not to be the case, their application will be refused and they will be barred from reapplying for 10 years.

British Citizenship

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many centres previously delivering the United Kingdom Citizenship Test have been barred from doing so for not complying with appropriate regulations.

Lord West of Spithead: To date only one centre has been removed from the network, City Wide Learning in Sheffield. The centre was found to be operating fraudulently and was the subject of a major fraud investigation by the police. The trial of those involved begins in January.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address domestic violence, in light of its correlation with alcohol consumption.

Lord West of Spithead: There are a number of alcohol arrest referral schemes in operation which aim to reduce reoffending among people arrested for alcohol-related offences. People who are arrested on suspicion of alcohol-related domestic violence in AAR pilot areas may be referred to a domestic violence specialist adviser and encouraged to address their behaviour and the consequences of their unsafe drinking. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to better understand the role that both alcohol and drugs play in contributing to incidents of domestic violence.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to increase the amount of community services for victims of domestic violence.

Lord West of Spithead: On 25 November, the Government launched Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls: A Strategy. In relation to service provision, the Government have committed to ensuring that violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, is mainstreamed into the joint strategic needs assessment process, enabling the identification of joint or aligned commissioning strategies in response to local needs.
	While central government have a role in the provision of some services, the main responsibility for local services rests with local statutory partners who administer the bulk of budgets and the now devolved commissioning responsibilities.
	We will continue to invest in specific domestic violence services such as national helplines, multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) and independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs).

Crime: Domestic Violence

Lord Sheikh: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will assist other local authorities to introduce domestic violence schemes similar to the Living without Violence programme provided by Brighton & Hove City Council.

Lord West of Spithead: We support the introduction of community-based perpetrator programmes. However, it is local partners who have the main responsibility for the services in their area. In our recently published strategy, Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls, we set out our commitments over the coming year to assist local areas to ensure that they have the appropriate service provision in place. This includes developing tools to assist areas to assess need and clear guidance for commissioners.

Crime: Hate

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they intend to make to the document Hate Crime: Delivering a Quality Service-Good Practice and Tactical Guidance of March 2005, in particular to the handling of complaints of homophobic conduct.

Lord West of Spithead: The Association of Chief Police Officers is refreshing the guidance and intends to publish a new manual in March 2010. The details of the document are currently in development. The publication of the new manual is one of the actions within the recently published cross-government hate crime action plan, which includes a range of other activity to reduce hate crime.
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/hate-crime-action-plan/
	Many police organisations and the ACPO lesbian, gay and bisexual group have done work to reduce hostility from staff to homosexual colleagues and some forces have performed very well in the Stonewall employer index, including in 2006, when Staffordshire Police was awarded the Employer of the Year Award by Stonewall.

Cyber Security

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Office of Cyber Security will be fully operational by March 2010.

Lord West of Spithead: The Office of Cyber Security was established in September 2009, and is already working in support of delivering the Cyber Security Strategy. Within the strategy it was felt sensible to plan for an initial operational capability-which included being staffed by approximately 20 people from different departments and agencies-by March 2010. They presently have 12 staff but are not waiting for an arbitrary initial operational capability; they are already making progress in their priority work areas. Other staff will be recruited over the remainder of the financial year.

Cyber Security

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken or will take through the European Union to improve its cyber security strategies.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK has contributed valuable input over many years to the improvement of the elements of Cyber Security, both through ENISA (the European Network and Information Security Agency) and other EU fora. This work takes place under the broad Commission headings of Critical Information Infrastructure Protection and Telecommunications Resilience, as well as the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection (known as EPCIP). Actions include collaborative efforts aimed at increasing European co-operation on policy to enhance cyber security, such as developing European priorities, principles and guidelines on long-term internet resilience and stability, as well as enhancing co-operation with industry.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Meeting with MPs

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 12 November (WA 205), what were the conclusions of the meeting between the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, and Members of Parliament who have constituencies in ports; what meetings he has had with the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on the ports' tax; and on what dates.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, met with Members of Parliament who have constituencies in ports and listened to their representations. The Government are currently considering the position and will reach their decision shortly.
	The review of ports by the Valuation Office Agency was to ensure that all individual business properties within and outside ports are rated fairly to ensure that the burden of contributions to funding local government is shared fairly amongst businesses around the country.
	The Government have listened to the concerns of businesses with significant and unexpected backdated bills, including some businesses within ports. They have legislated to enable such bills to be repaid over an unprecedented eight years rather than in a single instalment, helping affected businesses to manage the impact on their cash flows during the downturn by reducing the amount they are required to pay immediately by 87 per cent.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 12 November (WA 207-8), which recent publications demonstrating research excellence the Medical Research Council relied on in awarding an extension to the research project entitled "Improving the efficiency of human somatic cell nuclear transfer"; and what were the impact factors associated with those publications.

Lord Drayson: The Medical Research Council (MRC) awarded a one-year extension to the University of Newcastle for the project "Improving the efficiency of human somatic cell nuclear transfer". The award, which is an extension to the duration of the study, was granted at no additional cost to the MRC to allow the completion of the planned research. Such a time-only extension is the standard mechanism employed by the MRC for allowing grants to fulfil their original objectives. As such awards involve no significant changes to the research plans they are not subject to additional peer review. The original award, which was made in 2007, was subject to the MRC's rigorous peer review process and was considered to be internationally competitive.
	The MRC's peer review process includes an assessment of the importance of the scientific questions being asked, the research programme's potential for advancing biomedical science, and the justification for the resources requested; any ethical issues that need further attention are also identified. The process does not include a formal assessment of an applicant's previous research papers and any associated impact factors.

Energy: Wind Farms

Lord Reay: To ask Her Majesty's Government which planning appeals on wind farm applications have been recovered for decision by the Secretary of State since June 2008; and for each case (a) why it was recovered, (b) what the outcome was, and (c) whether the Inspector's recommendation was accepted or overturned.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The following table lists those appeals together with the decision where that has been published, and whether the inspector's recommendation was accepted or overturned in each case. Data on the reasons for recovery are not collected centrally, but most of these appeals will have been recovered under the criterion "proposals for major significance for the delivery of the Government's climate change programme and energy policies".
	
		
			 Name and location of appeal Decision Was inspector's recommendation accepted or not 
			 Land adjacent to Alcan Smelter, Northumberland Allow Accepted 
			 Land at Barmoor, between Ford and Lowick, Northumberland Not yet published N/A 
			 Land at Berrier Hill, Penrith Not yet published N/A 
			 Land at Crook Hill, Rochdale (4 appeals) Allow Accepted 
			 Land at Grise Wind Farm, Penrith Not yet published N/A 
			 Land at Hall Farm, Routh, Beverley Allow Accepted 
			 Land at Reaps Moss Allow Accepted 
			 Land at Todmorden Moor, Calderdale Dismiss Accepted 
			 Land at Toft Hill, Northumberland Not yet published N/A 
			 Land at Westfield Lane, Wakefield Not yet published N/A 
			 Land between Clough Foot and Sharney Ford Allow Accepted 
			 Land north-east of Swinford, near Lutterworth Not yet published N/A 
			 Moorsyde Windfarm, Northumberland Not yet published N/A 
			 Sober Hill Windfarm, York Not yet published N/A 
			 Wadlow Farm, Cambridgeshire Allow Accepted 
			 Wandylaw Far, Chathill, Allow Accepted

Government Departments: Annual Reports

Lord Bates: To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments publish an annual report on their departmental communications.

Baroness Crawley: This information is not collected centrally. Each government department, agency and NDPB is responsible for reporting on its own communications and each Secretary of State is responsible to Parliament in the normal way. Departments review and report on their communications function as part of the normal departmental planning process.

Government Departments: Websites

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in ensuring that all websites owned by them have the letters "uk" in their domain name.

Baroness Crawley: Government departments must ensure that by March 2011 all their websites use .gov.uk domain names. Guidance was issued by COI in November 2008 and approved by the then Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Tom Watson MP). Government have actively pursued this policy through centrally co-ordinated communications.

Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to end rough sleeping by 2012.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Following on from the publication of our new rough sleeping strategy, No One Left Out: communities ending rough sleeping in November 2008, we have recently published our annual progress report for November 2008-November 2009 which outlines the progress that we have made in further reducing rough sleeping.
	The progress report can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/annualroughsleeping

Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the most recent figures of the numbers of rough sleepers in each local authority area.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: There have been significant and sustained cuts in the numbers of people who are living rough on the streets since we established a baseline of 1,850 rough sleepers in 1998. The 2009 headline figure for rough sleeping based on local authority counts is 464 and set out in the table below.
	
		
			 Local Authority Date Number 
			 Westminster 26/03/2009 110 
			 City of London 20/03/2009 38 
			 Tower Hamlets 01/05/2009 17 
			 Southwark 03/04/2009 15 
			 Kensington & Chelsea 25/11/2008 13 
			 Lambeth 26/03/2009 13 
			 Haringey 27/11/2008 10 
			 Bath 03/04/2009 10 
			 Bedford 23/05/2008 10 
			 Hackney 20/03/2009 10 
			 Hillingdon 19/11/2008 10 
			 Chester 27/03/2008 9 
			 Liverpool 21/04/2009 9 
			 Manchester 28/11/2008 9 
			 Hammersmith & Fulham 25/11/2008 8 
			 Norwich 07/05/2009 8 
			 Herefordshire 24/09/2008 7 
			 Hull 19/05/2009 7 
			 Worthing 21/11/2008 7 
			 Bournemouth 28/10/2008 6 
			 Brighton and Hove 04/03/2009 6 
			 Camden 22/04/2009 6 
			 Leeds 18/04/2008 6 
			 Peterborough 28/05/2008 6 
			 Reading 14/05/2008 6 
			 Redbridge 28/05/2008 6 
			 Carrick 31/03/2009 5 
			 Exeter 08/05/2009 5 
			 Kirklees 21/11/2008 5 
			 Oxford 21/11/2008 5 
			 Watford 25/03/2009 5 
			 Birmingham 28/11/2008 4 
			 Brent 07/03/2008 4 
			 Coventry 26/03/2009 4 
			 Derby 12/05/2008 4 
			 Milton Keynes 28/11/2008 4 
			 North Devon 18/03/2009 4 
			 Plymouth 25/11/2008 4 
			 Winchester 18/11/2008 4 
			 Bradford 21/11/2008 3 
			 North Cornwall 31/03/2009 3 
			 Restormel 31/03/2009 3 
			 Salisbury 09/10/2008 3 
			 Sheffield 07/05/2008 3 
			 Sunderland 26/11/2008 3 
			 Crewe & Nantwich 27/03/2008 2 
			 Lancaster 06/03/2009 2 
			 Lewisham 27/03/2008 2 
			 Macclesfield 27/03/2008 2 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 29/04/2008 2 
			 Northampton 16/04/2009 2 
			 Waltham Forest 24/04/2009 2 
			 York 29/04/2009 2 
			 Bromley 13/03/2009 1 
			 Calderdale 15/05/2008 1 
			 Cambridge 03/10/2008 1 
			 Fenland 09/09/2008 1 
			 Halton 27/03/2008 1 
			 Isle of Wight 04/04/2009 1 
			 Penwith 31/03/2009 1 
			 Portsmouth 22/05/2009 1 
			 Rotherham 16/09/2008 1 
			 Teignbridge 26/03/2008 1 
			 Wakefield 22/05/2009 1 
			 Caradon 31/03/2009 0 
			 Congleton 27/03/2008 0 
			 Ellesmere Port & Neston 27/03/2008 0 
			 Gateshead 15/04/2009 0 
			 Hertsmere 22/05/2009 0 
			 Kerrier 31/03/2008 0 
			 Newham 07/03/2008 0 
			 North Lincs 16/10/2008 0 
			 North Somerset 15/05/2008 0 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 22/04/2008 0 
			 Vale Royal 27/03/2008 0 
			 Warrington 07/03/2008 0 
			 Total from street counts  464

Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children under 16 years old are sleeping rough in the United Kingdom.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: There is no evidence from rough sleeper counts, conducted by local authorities, of children under 16 sleeping rough.

Identity Cards

Baroness Neville-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col 946W), what percentage of the people whose applications for an identity card have been received work for the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), what percentage of the people whose applications for an identity card have been received work for (a) the Home Office, (b) Home Office executive agencies, and (c) Home Office sponsored non-departmental public bodies.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), how many applications for an identity card have been received (a) in total, and (b) from people working in (1) the Home Office, (2) the Identity and Passport Service, and (3) other executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Home Office.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), and following the issuing of identity cards to members of the public in Greater Manchester, how many applications for identity cards they expect to receive from British and Irish citizens in each of the next 12 months.

Lord West of Spithead: The commencement order under the Identity Cards Act 2006 that came into force on 20 October allows for certain IPS and Home Office staff as well as airport operator staff at Manchester and London City airports to be amongst the first to apply for identity cards. The information held on the National Identity Register does not include the basis of an individual's eligibility to apply for an identity card.
	Since 20 October, up to and including 27 November, 1,416 eligible volunteers, from the Greater Manchester area, London and the two airports, have made an appointment to enrol for an identity card. Up to and including 20 November, almost 13,000 people have registered their interest in the National Identity Service. So far 19 per cent of those registered are from the Greater Manchester area.
	We began enrolling those who live and work in Greater Manchester from 30 November. At this stage it is, therefore, difficult to make any precise forecast of the number of people likely to take up the option of applying for an identity card in the next 12 months.

Immigration

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of illegal immigrants in the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994, no Government have been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case. However, the Government have reintroduced border controls through the e-borders system, which will, in future, allow an estimate to be made.

Immigration

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found working for the UK Border Agency in each of the last five years.

Lord West of Spithead: In 2006, a total of nine contract cleaners, working in the then Immigration and Nationality Department of the Home Office, were found not to have valid leave to remain in the UK. Following that, the Home Office's procedures for checking its own employees were tightened and the Home Office worked with its contractors to ensure that they fulfilled their responsibilities for pre-employment checking of their employees. Since 2006 we know of only one other case (in 2008) where an employee of a contractor had invalid leave to remain.

Immigration

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found working for the Home Office in each of the last five years.

Lord West of Spithead: There have been two occasions within the last five years where compliance checks have found illegal immigrants working for Home Office contractors. In the first case (2007) the individual was removed from the UK; in the second (2009) removal action is currently under consideration.

Immigration: Detention Centres

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the warnings they have received of the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in immigration detention centres; and what assessment they have made of whether contractors managing these centres provide adequate staff to monitor the use of these substances, and take action when evidence of abuse comes to their attention.

Lord West of Spithead: Each immigration removal centre (IRC) has a security department responsible for identifying threats, including drugs, and for developing strategies, responses and actions to counter these and to manage the risk.
	For security reasons, we are unable to reveal the detail of the strategies. However, they are designed to minimise illegal entry to the centre of prohibited items including drugs and alcohol.
	All removal centres are adequately staffed to provide a safe and secure environment for staff, detainees and visitors alike. Detention custody officers are all trained in searching techniques and substance awareness. All drug finds and incidents of trafficking are reported to the police and, where appropriate, detainee visits are monitored or visitors banned.

Immigration: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 220), what arrangements exist for those granted leave to enter the United Kingdom whilst resident in the Republic of Ireland who enter the United Kingdom through the Northern Ireland land frontier with the Republic of Ireland to get their passports stamped to prove a United Kingdom arrival date, as required for applications for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: There are currently no arrangements in place for those persons holding leave to enter the United Kingdom, who cross the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to have a UK arrival endorsement placed in their passport. This is because the principles of the common travel area mean that such an endorsement is not required.
	When applying for indefinite leave to remain, a person is asked on the application form to supply all passports and travel documents used since their first arrival in the UK. However, the accompanying guidance notes make it clear that where this evidence is not available, the applicant should provide an explanation and supply additional documentary evidence of having lived in the UK during the qualifying period.

Migration

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information is given to migrants from the European Union on their arrival in the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: As all EEA nationals have a right to freedom of movement in the United Kingdom they are not subject to the same border controls as non-EEA nationals seeking to enter the United Kingdom.
	As such no information is given to EEA nationals on their arrival.
	The United Kingdom Border Agency offers relevant information on the Home Office website for EEA Nationals, and ukvisas.gov.uk offers information in the form of leaflet INF18, for EEA nationals intending to travel to the UK.

National DNA Database

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have information about the ethnicity of those whose data are included in the national DNA database; and, if so, whether they will publish the information.

Lord West of Spithead: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not hold self-reported ethnicity data, but data on the "ethnic appearance" of persons who have a DNA profile on the database. The ethnic appearance data have six broad ethnic categories plus "unknown". It is based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample and is recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification. The ethnic appearance data have only been recorded for volunteer samples since 2005.
	The table below shows the number of DNA profiles on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance, as at 16 October 2009. "Unknown" means that no ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer taking the sample. The number of profiles held is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicates-i.e. more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. It is estimated that 13.8 per cent of the subject profiles held on the entire NDNAD are replicates.
	Data on the number of subject profiles retained on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance are published in the NDNAD Annual Reports. The latest annual report for 2007-09 is published on the NPIA website at: http://www.npia.police.uk/en/14399.htm

Northern Ireland Office: Political Directorate

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they propose to the Northern Ireland Office's Political Directorate regarding its monitoring of human rights and equality.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: None.

Planning

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce regulations to reform planning legislation to enable control over partial demolition and development in conservation areas.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reform planning regulations to take account of concerns about the level of heritage protection in conservation areas caused by the 1991 South Lakeland and 1997 Shimizu judgments.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will proceed with reform of permitted development rights in conservation areas resulting from feedback on the White Paper, Heritage Protection for the 21st Century.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government are preparing a new planning policy statement (PPS) on the historic environment. The draft PPS, which was the subject of a recent public consultation, advises that, where an element of a conservation area does not positively contribute to its significance, local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of enhancing or better revealing the significance of the conservation area. The Government believe that this could go some way towards addressing the implications of the South Lakeland judgment. We hope to publish a final version of the PPS in spring 2010.
	In the 2007 White Paper, Heritage Protection for the 21st Century, the Government proposed that planning permission should be required for the partial demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area. The intention was to address the 1997 Shimizu judgment that consent from the local planning authority is required only for total or substantial demolition. Responses to consultation on the White Paper showed that there was general support for this measure, implementation of which would involve an amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. The timing of any such changes will be considered alongside other priorities.

Planning

Lord Tope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review Planning Policy Statement 15 to ensure that listed buildings receive adequate protection.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: A draft planning policy statement (PPS) 15 was the subject of a recent public consultation exercise. It is intended that this will replace the current planning policy guidance notes 15 (planning and the historic environment) and 16 (archaeology and planning). The draft sets out policies on the conservation of the historic environment, including designated heritage assets such as listed buildings, through the planning system. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered and a final version of the PPS is expected to be published next spring.

Public Bodies

Lord Selsdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the difference between a quango and a non-departmental public body.

Baroness Crawley: The term "non-departmental public body" has been used by successive Governments since 1980 to describe bodies which have a role in the processes of national government but are not government departments, or part of one, and which accordingly operate, to a greater or lesser extent, at arm's length from Ministers. The term "quango" is not an official term or classification used by government.

Public Bodies

Lord Selsdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the annual expenditure on non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2008, (b) 2007, (c) 2006, (d) 2005, and (e) 2004.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the budget for expenditure on non-departmental public bodies for 2009-10.

Baroness Crawley: Information on total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is published in the annual Cabinet Office Public Bodies report. Copies of Public Bodies for the period 2004-08 are available from the Libraries of the House. Copies can also be downloaded from www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/ndpbs.aspx
	Public Bodies 2009 will be published early in the New Year. Information on budgets for NDPBs for 2009-10 is not held centrally.

Public Bodies

Lord Selsdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Crawley on 12 November (HL Deb, col. 899), which Members of the House of Lords were appointees to non-departmental public bodies on 18 November; and what were their appointments and levels of individual remuneration.

Baroness Crawley: I wrote to the noble Lord on this issue on 19 November.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Bates: To ask the Leader of the House how many Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords in session 2008-09 did not receive an answer by the end of the session.

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Six Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords in Session 2008-09 did not receive an answer by the end of the session. Departments have been advised to provide substantive answers to these questions in writing in due course.

Visas

Baroness Warsi: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 16 July (WA 264-5), what happened to each international student who had their student visa revoked.

Lord West of Spithead: In general terms a student whose visa is revoked has three options: they can appeal against the decision to revoke their visa to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal; they can seek to regularise their stay in the United Kingdom by applying for leave to remain in another immigration category; or they can return home. Students who do not follow one of these courses of action will be considered for appropriate enforcement action. Action to enforce a person's departure is prioritised on those who pose the greatest risk to the UK public.

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 239), in how many countries VFS Global is contracted to act as an outsourced visa service for United Kingdom visa applicants; and which other companies are contracted to supply visa services for United Kingdom visa applicants in which other countries.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency has contracts in place with two suppliers to provide visa application support services throughout its global network. VFS Global operates in 34 countries, CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) operates in 14. The countries in which they operate are listed below:
	
		
			 Countries in which VFS Global and CSC operate the UK's visa application support services 
			 VFS CSC 
			 Bahrain Algeria 
			 Bangladesh Brazil 
			 China Canada 
			 Ethiopia Egypt 
			 Ghana France 
			 India Germany 
			 Indonesia Italy 
			 Japan Jamaica 
			 Kazakhstan Jordan 
			 Kenya Lebanon 
			 Kuwait Libya 
			 Malawi Serbia 
			 Malaysia Switzerland 
			 Mozambique Turkey 
			 Namibia  
			 Nepal 
			 Nigeria 
			 Oman 
			 Pakistan 
			 Philippines 
			 Qatar 
			 Russia 
			 Singapore 
			 Saudi Arabia 
			 South Africa 
			 South Korea 
			 Sri Lanka 
			 Syria 
			 Taiwan 
			 Thailand 
			 UAE 
			 Uganda 
			 Ukraine 
			 Zimbabwe

Visas

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 239), how many visa applications were (a) accepted, and (b) turned down, by VFS Global in the last year in (1) India, and (2) Pakistan.

Lord West of Spithead: All decisions on UK visa applications, including those lodged in India and Pakistan, are made by UK Border Agency (UKBA) entry clearance officers. VFS Global is contracted by the UKBA to provide visa application support services in India, Pakistan and various other countries and plays no part in decision making. VFS Global has no power to refuse to accept an application after due payment is made. It may inform an applicant if certain key documents appear to be missing, and that the application may be refused for that reason.